Iran launches over 100 drones at Israel in unprecedented ‘revenge’ strike
Iran's Supreme Leader promised to 'punish' Israel for bombing the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
Iran has launched a massive drone strike upon Israel which is believed to arrive in the next few hours.
Iraqi security forces huge wave of drones were spotted flying from the direction of Iran over Iraq’s Sulaymaniya province, which was soon corroborated by the IDF.
The attack is confirmed to be part of a revenge strike after a suspected Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus killed 12 people on April 1.
Seven members of the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) were killed in the attack, including one of their top generals, and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has since vowed revenge.
Israel has been widely blamed for the strike, but has not publicly taken credit for the attack.
In a statement read on Iranian state TV, security forces said the attack was launched in response to ‘numerous crimes of the evil Zionist regime, including the attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damacus’.
US officials have said Iran is expected to launch more than 100 drones, dozens of cruise missiles and dozens of ballistic missiles.
The drones are believed to be equipped with 20kg of explosives and are expected to reach Israel at approximately 2am local time (12am in the UK).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country’s defence systems have been deployed and that Israel’s armed forces were ready.
‘I established a clear principle – whoever hurts us, we hurt him. We will protect ourselves from any threat and we will do so with coolness and determination,’ he said.
Rishi Sunak has released a statement condemning the drone strike ‘in the strongest terms’.
The prime minister said: ‘I condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian regime’s reckless attack against Israel. These strikes risk inflaming tensions and destabilising the region. Iran has once again demonstrated that it is intent on sowing chaos in its own backyard.
‘The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq.
‘Alongside our allies, we are urgently working to stabilise the situation and prevent further escalation. No one wants to see more bloodshed.’
This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
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